Facts & Figures

The United States exports more coal to other countries than it imports. Between 2000 and 2010, about 5 percent of the coal produced in the United States, on average, was exported to other countries. According to the World Energy Council, more than one-fourth of the world’s economically recoverable coal reserves are in the United States – making the U.S. the largest repository of coal in the world.

In 2017, the U.S. exported 97 million short tons of coal to at least 42 countries. The U.S. exports metallurgical coal and steam coal. Metallurgical coal can be used for steel production, and steam coal can be used for electricity generation. Metallurgical coal accounted for about 53 percent of total U.S. coal exports in 2018. Steam coal accounted for 88 percent of total U.S. coal imports in 2018.

About 47 percent of U.S. coal exports in 2018 went to five countries. The top five destinations of U.S. coal exports, the amount exported (MMst=million short tons), and their percent shares of total coal exports in 2018 were: